History Moments Malcolm X

Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little in North Omaha on May 19, 1925. His father, Earl Little, was a minister active in the creation of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, following Marcus Garvey's movement for Black Nationalism in the 1920's. At the same time, the Ku Klux Klan was experiencing a spike in membership and activity across the nation, and in Nebraska. The Littles' home at 3448 Pinkney Street was burned to the ground when Malcolm's mother, Louise, was pregnant with Malcolm. The threats from white supremacists continues, and Rev. Little moved his family to Milwaukee, and later to Lansing, Michigan, where he met an untimely and unsolved death in 1931. Malcolm was six years old. When he was thirteen, his mother experienced a breakdown and was institutionalized. After that, Malcolm lived with relatives and in foster homes in Boston and New York until he went to prison for burglary. It was there Malcolm developed a love of learning, and became a self-educated activist. After leaving prison, he changed is name to Malcolm X, and converted to an American sect of Islam, studying under Elijah Muhammed. speaking out against mistreatment of African-Americans. He gained prominence with the release of the Autobiography of Malcolm X in 1964. Awakened spiritually on a pilgrimage to Mecca, he converted to Islam, becoming a staunch advocate for peace, justice, and brotherhood until his assassination in 1965. His teachings live on today, and the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation in Omaha commemorates his life’s work and his birthplace.